Genetic Influences on Health: Does Race Matter?—Correction

Incorrect Figure: In the Special Communication
entitled “Genetic Influences on Health: Does Race Matter?” published
in the August 24/31, 2005, issue of JAMA (2005;294:937-946),
there is an error in Figure 1. The colors
for the distributions below the curve were reversed; the key to the Figure
is correct. The correct Figure 1 appears
below.

Distributions of the reduction in blood pressure observed in African
Americans and European Americans after treatment with an angiotensin-converting
enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. One hypothetical explanation for the mean difference
in treatment response is that a genetic risk variant predictive of a positive
response to treatment is more common in European Americans (individuals to
the right of the dotted line) than in African Americans. Note, however, that
some African Americans also have the genetic risk variant and that many African
Americans and European Americans who do not have the genetic risk variant
have a similar response to treatment (ie, overlap between distributions).
In this case, race might not be considered a good predictor of genetic risk
or response to treatment. Based on an original concept by Seghal.9